Personal Finance

Billionaires' Row: These Are New York's Uber Elite Residential Towers

Aerial view of supertall buildings and skyscrapers of Billionaires Row in Midtown Manhattan at sunset. New York City
Francois Roux / Shutterstock.com

Manhattan is one of the most expensive places to live in the world. If you’re getting started there, get ready to live like Aladdin’s genie stuffed into the “teeny tiny living space” of the magic lamp . . . only with several roommates. And if you want to live on Billionaire’s Row, you’re gonna need about a thousand roommates, as condos there sell for up to $250 million! Check them out with us.

24/7 Wall St. Insights

  • High-rise residences on Billionaire’s row offer a prime location near the city’s financial district and spectacular views of the city and Central Park.
  • The amenities in these buildings cater to the extravagant lifestyle of the ultra-rich.
  • Also: Discover “The Next NVIDIA

Where is Billionaires’ Row?

New York City Central Park. Top view with Autumn tree. Autumn Central Park view from drone. Aerial of NY City, panorama in Autumn. Autumn in Central Park. Central Park Fall Colors of foliage.
Volodymyr TVERDOKHLIB / Shutterstock.com

Billionaire’s Row is a neighborhood of high luxury residential skyscrapers at the southern end of Central Park in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. It includes several supertall skyscrapers over 1,000 feet tall. Some of them are around 57th Street, so that area is included in Billionaires’ Row.

How Much Does it Cost to Live There?

Beautiful woman standing on the rooftop of a skyscraper
Ollyy / Shutterstock.com

Buildings in Billionaire’s Row have broken records for the most expensive residences in the United States. These include a 2-story penthouse that sold for over $100 million, a 4-floor residence for $238 million, and several units combined into a 4-story mansion for $250 million. 

Why is it So Expensive?

stylish cozy light bright luxurious spacious interior of a country house white walls with ornaments, fireplace, work area and recreation area without people during the day
Pinkystock / Shutterstock.com

In addition to being close to the business district on the southern end of Manhattan and offering beautiful views of the city and Central Park, Billionaire’s Row has benefited from foreign investors seeking a safe haven for their money. Some of them are trying to avoid taxes in their home country or launder money they got in nefarious ways. After purchase, some of the apartments are left vacant or only used to store valuables in a building with high security, functioning like enormous safe deposit boxes. 

Who Are the Billionaires?

Businesswoman riding a car with chauffeur
Africa Studio / Shutterstock.com

Privacy is important to the buyers in Billionaire’s Row, so most of them purchase anonymously. However, the billionaires who are known to be owners include Michael Dell, Bill Ackman, Fawaz Al Hokair, Kenneth C. Griffin, Sara Blakely, Lloyd Blankfein, Omid Kordestani, Daniel Loeb, Daniel Och, Eyal Ofer, Pan Shiyi, Sandy Weill, Jerry Yang, Dmitry Rybolovlev, and Zhang Xin. 

Why Are These Buildings Controversial?

CENTRAL PARK IN NEW YORK CITY, BEAUTIFUL VIEW OF HIGH NYC SKYSCRAPERS AND GREEN PARK AREA IN SUN LIGHT
Here / Shutterstock.com

As with any super-tall buildings, one of the concerns is how they block sunlight with their long shadows. In this case, because they are arranged near Central Park, their shadows are particularly irritating to people who want to enjoy a sunny day in the park. Another reason Billionaires’ Row developments raise some New Yorkers’ ire is that they represent huge wealth inequalities and drive up already unaffordable real estate prices in Manhattan. 

Next up are the major buildings in Billionaires’ Row

1. One 57 (157 West 57th Street)

157 West 57th Street
public domain / wikimedia commons
  • Built: 2009-2014
  • Height: 1,005 feet
  • Stories: 73 above ground, 2 below ground
  • Cost: $1.5 billion
  • Style: Modern
  • Uses: Hyatt Hotel, condominiums

2. 432 Park Avenue

432 Park Avenue
public domain / wikimedia commons
  • Built: 2011-2015
  • Height: 1,397 feet
  • Stories: 96
  • Cost: $1.25 billion
  • Style: Minimalist 
  • Uses: Luxury condominiums, retail 

3. 252 East 57th Street

252 East 57th Street
Skyline Rider / Wikimedia Commons
  • Built: 2013-2016
  • Height: 712 feet
  • Stories: 65
  • Cost: $700 million
  • Style: Modern
  • Uses: Luxury condominiums, retail, rental apartments, 2 public schools

4. 111 West 57th Street

public domain / wikimedia commons
  • Built: 2014-2021
  • Height: 1,438 feet
  • Stories: 84
  • Cost: $2 billion
  • Style: Neo-Art Deco
  • Uses: Luxury condominiums

5. Central Park Tower (225 West 57th Street)

Percival Kestreltail / wikimedia commons
  • Built: 2014-2021
  • Height: 1,550 feet
  • Stories: 98
  • Cost: $3 billion
  • Style: Modern
  • Uses: Luxury condominiums, retail

6. 220 Central Park South

Jim Henderson / wikimedia commons
  • Built: 2015-2019
  • Height: 952 feet
  • Stories: 70
  • Cost: $1.5 billion
  • Style: New Classical
  • Uses: Luxury condominiums

7. 53W53 (53 West 53rd Street)

CVB / Wikimedia Commons
  • Built: 2014-2019
  • Height: 1,050 feet
  • Stories: 77
  • Cost: $1 billion 
  • Style: Postmodern
  • Uses: Museum of Modern Art galleries, restaurant, luxury condominiums

8. 520 Park Avenue

Kidfly182 / wikimedia commons
  • Built: 2015-2018
  • Height: 781 feet
  • Stories: 54
  • Cost: $450 million
  • Style: New Classical
  • Uses: Luxury condominiums

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